_5thly_, From what has been said concerning that degree of the presence of God which believers enjoy, which has a tendency to keep them from utter despair, at least, from sinking into perdition, how disconsolate soever their case may be at present; we may be induced to admire the goodness and faithfulness of God in his dealings with his people, who will not lay more on them than he will enable them to bear; though they are comfortless and hopeless, yet they shall not be destroyed; and, in the end, they shall be satisfied with God’s loving kindness; and when the clouds are all dispersed, they shall have a bright and glorious day in his immediate presence, where _there is fulness of joy_, and at his _right hand_ where _there are pleasures for evermore_, Psal. xvi. 11. Footnote 107: _The word_ αδοκιμοι, _though it be sometimes used to signify such as are rejected as objects of God’s hatred, as in Heb._ vi. 8. _and consequently is inconsistent with the character of believers; yet, in other places it may be taken according to the grammatical construction thereof, as opposed to_ δοκιμοι; _which signifies persons approved_, 2 Tim. ii. 15. _and so it signifies a person whose conduct is blame-worthy, or whose actions are not to be approved of; and this may be applied to some who are not altogether destitute of faith_, _though they are not able to vindicate themselves in all respects as blameless. That the apostle uses the word in this sense here, seems probable from the application he makes of it to himself; it is said, ver. 3._ Ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, δοκιμην ζητειτε; _and verse 6. he says_, I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates; _so we render the words_ ελπιζω δε οτι γνωσεθε oτι hμεις ουκ εσμεν αδοκιμοι; _but it would be more agreeable to what is said in verse 4. if we should render them, I trust that ye shall know that we are not disapproved, or that ye shall find a proof of Christ speaking in us: and in verse 7. he farther says_, I pray to God, not that we should appear approved. ουχ iνα hμεις δοκιμοι φανωμεν, _that is, I am not so much concerned about your finding a proof of Christ speaking in us_; but that ye should do that which is honest, _q. d._ _I am more concerned for you than myself, though we be as reprobates_, hμεις δε wς αδοκιμοι ωμεν _that is, whether you think we have a proof of Christ’s speaking in us or no, or his approving us in the course of our ministry, my great concern is, that you may be approved; so that it is plain the apostle uses the word_ αδοκιμοι, _as signifying disapproved; and therefore as it is applied to those he speaks of in verse 5. the meaning is this; you seek to know whether we are approved of God as ministers; therefore I would advise you to examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith, and to prove your ownselves: and if you know not yourselves, you are in this respect blame-worthy,